Process of renovating apparel.



M. L. WEISS.

PROGESS 0F RENOVATING APPAREL.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB.24, 1908.

930,522. Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

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M. L. WEISS.

PROCESS OF RBNOVATING APPAREL.

APPLIOATION FILED PEB.24, 1908.

930,522, Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

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UNITED MAX L. wEIssfoF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

PROCESS OF RENOVA'IING APPAREL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

Application filed February 2 1908. Serial No. 417,586.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knowmthat I, M AX L. Weiss, a citizen ol' the United States, and aresident of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented anew and useful Process of Renovating Apparel, of which the following,

is a specification.

My invention relates to a process of renovating apparel and has for itsprincipal object to remove the shine and to restore the originalappearance of the pattern of the fabric. The invention consistsprincipally in sand blasting the goods as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, andwherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur, Figure 1is a fragmentary perspective view of a simple form of apparatus forcarrying my invention into effect; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sideelevation thereof; and, Fig. 3 is a view partly in front elevation andpartly in section, showinga modified apparatus.

In carrying out my process, the sand blast is applied to all portions ofthe fabric that require renovation. Preferably, the device for applyingthe sand blast remains stationary, and the fabric is slowly drawn pastit. Instead of delivering the blast at right angles to the surface ofthe fabric, it is preferable to incline the blast to the fabric, and tofeed the fabric, first, in such direction that the blast will be againstthe nap and afterward to reverse the feed so that the blast will be inthe direction of the nap. In order to render the blast more efficient,the fabric is bent or curled along the line of impact so as to open upthe nap. This bending of the fabric can be conveniently effected bydrawing it over a small rod or roller, in which case the sand blast isarranged to issue from a thin slit substantially parallel with theroller.

After the fabric has been submitted to the sand blast, the rubbishthereon, consisting of sand and small particles of dirt, is removedtherefrom in any suitable way, as for instance, by beating or shaking orby air applied either as a blast or a suction.

If it is desired to further clean the fabric after the removal of theloose matter resulting from the sand blastin be submitted to anysuitallle cleaning operation, as for instance, the ordinary process ofsteaming or chemical cleaning.

For renovating fine fabrics by my process, a very fine sand should beused, such as is the fabric may commonly used by manufacturing jewelers.For renovating coarser fabrics, a coarser sand blast is preferable. Itis obvious that any hard material suitably comminuted may be substitutedfor sand without affecting the operation of the process, and I intendthe word sand blasting to cover the use of all such materials.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, theapparatus coniprises a Work table A having a rounded rod or a roller Bat one end over which the cloth or fabric C is bent or curled. Suspendedabove the table in fixed position and at an incline so as to dischargetangentially, or nearly so, with respect to the roller B is a sand blastnozzle D. By this arrangement, the blast is directed at an incline tothe surface of the fabric at a point where it starts to bend oreurl,-whereby the action of the blast is upon the opened up nap. Thecloth or fabric may be manipulated by hand pcripherally andlongitudinally of the roller B so as to bring the portions of the fabricit is desired to renovate into the path of the sand blast.

If desirable, "the apparatus maybe incased and the sand may be used overand over again in a manner similar to that set forth in connection withthe modification which will now be described.

Referring now to Fig. 3 of the drawings, wherein is shown a modifiedapparatus for carrying my invention into efiect, said apparatuscomprises a closed housing or renovating chamber 1 which. is mountedupon a suitable stand 2. Within the chamber 1 is rotaably mounted a formor frame 3. This form 3 may be made to correspond to the kind of garmentto be renovated and interchangeably mounted on a rotatable spindle 4.This spindle is journaled at its lower end in a pedestal bearing 5 whichis mounted on a cross piece 6 at the bottom of the chamber 1. The upperend of the spindle projects above the casing and has a bevel gear 7 onits end which meshes with a bevel gear 8 on a drive shaft 9. A handwheel 10 is secured on the drive shaft, whereby the garmentcarrying formmay be readily rotated by the operator.

At the bottom of the chamber 1 is a hoper 1 1 for holding the supply ofsand and also for catching the sand after it has blown against thegarment Projecting downwardly from the bottom of the hopper is a shortsection of pipe 12 which communicates with a downwardly inclined pipe13. The outer portion 14 of this pipe 13 leads from some suitable sourceof air pressure and it is provided with a controlling valve 15. The pipe.13 is extended upwardly as at 16 and is carried into the chamber 1preferably near the top thereof. Inside of the chamber 1 the pipe isconnected to a flexible pipe 17 which has a blast nozzle 18 thereon.

In the side of the casing is a circular opening 1 9 which is covered bya sleeve 20 of flexible material. The free end of the sleeve ispreferably provided with an elastic puckering string. By thisarrangement, the operator may insert his arm-through the hole 19 intothe casing so as to grasp and manipulate the blast nozzle. The elasticpuckering string will draw the end of the sleeve close about the forearmof the operator so as to cf fectually close the opening and yet permitof the free movement of the operators arm.

In order to permit the operator to see into the chamber, a transparentpanel 21 is provided the side of the casing.

In the operation of the apparatus herein shown, the valve 15 is openedto admit the air pressure into the pipe-13. The air flowing through thepipe will siphon the sand from the hopper and carry it with considerableforce through thepipe connections to the nozzle18 whereupon it maybedirected at any desired point upon the garment or fabric to berenovated. By turning the hand wheel and manipulating the nozzle, theoperator may direct the nozzle over the entire garment or portionsthereof at will. The sand after being blasted against the garment dropsinto the hopper where it may be used again.

While I have shown a form for a pair of trousers, obviously a form for acoat or any other garment may be readily substituted therefor. So, too,other forms of apparatus may be used for carrying my invention intoeffect.

\Vhat I claim is:

1.. The process of renovating fabrics which consists in sand blastingthe same.

2. The process of renovating fabrics which consists in directing a sandblast against the same in the direction of the nap thereof.

3. The process of rmuwating fabrics which consists in directing a sandblast against the same iirst against the direction of the nap andafterward in the direction of the nap.

4. The process of renovating faln-ics which consists in sand blastingthe same, and afterward removing the rubbish therefrom.

5. The process of renovating fabrics which consists in sand blasting thesame, then removing the rubbish therefrom, and then chemically cleaningthe same.

6. The process of renovating fabrics which consists in progressivelybending the. fabric andsand-blasting the same along the bend thereof.

Signed at St. Louis, Missouri, Feb. 2 1, 1908.

MAX L. \YICISS.

Witnesses .l'ioors (lonns'rnm, J. B. Mncown.

